edit - there's a tl;dr below so you can skip all this

I play flute/piccolo and piano. I didn't start music lessons until I was 8 and took theory (which included piano) and surprised everyone. I look back as an adult and am really shocked, but as a kid, it wasn't anything special, I did what I liked. That's when I taught myself flute when I asked for one. I wanted to learn a new instrument at least each year! My parents wouldn't let me take any more lessons because they wanted me to focus on school. Oh, was I steamed when my parents said it was too expensive and I had to stick with flute and piano; I had plans! They gave me a piccolo for Christmas as a peace offering, lol! But never caved in, much to my chagrin.

So, we had to decide when I was 9 whether I was going to pursue music exclusively, or as an extracurricular activity. There are a lot more talented people out there and the pressure to be the very best was not something they wanted for me - the odds are not good - then you end up struggling to make a living. Since I was excelling in school, they decided I had a much better chance of success pursuing academics. I still can't watch these little kids performing on you tube, it makes me sad. No matter what anyone says, the pressure is enormous and as they age, they loose their 'edge' (meaning the uniqueness of youth), unless they are the one in a million star. So many child prodigies burn out and find their lives were controlled by others for so long, they were like little robots. Luckily, music wasn't my only talent, so I had choices. (God that sounds pretentious, sorry!)

I am relieved (but still wistful) that things worked out as they did, but I am a more rounded individual. I see a friend from back then who wasn't as gifted, but worked really hard and she is still struggling, teaching music lessons to kids who don't want to be there and playing in a second rate orchestra. You can be the most industrious person ever and you still cannot beat the person born with the talent who works half as hard as you -- you just can't compete, let alone if they do work as hard as you. And I don't know why she never learned it, but it's sad that at 45 she is still struggling so hard.

So, I stayed in lessons, did the youth orchestra thing, did the solo performances, but all after school. I am grateful to my parents for all the time and money spent on lessons! And now that I have the migraine thing, I cannot even pick up the flute most days because blowing & noise is not the best thing for your head. At least I haven't lost my music skills as much as I lost my French, lol! But not speaking French was on purpose after having a horrid time in France that scarred me forever, lol! (Bastards were so mean, makes you realize how nice Americans are about trying to understand non-native speakers!)

Holy Moses, I just wrote a novel, sorry!

tl:dr My parents decided to not have me pursue music exclusively. less

I have hair down to my mid butt and I am gonna get it cut soon. I don't like it that long, it's a pain, but I leave my hair long because I like to wear it pulled back into a ponytail, bun, something. And having more length gives me a nice amount to work with so it looks full and pretty. It's interesting to find others with it that long.

Stormy, how long can you get it now? less

I sent you a PM about a supplement you might like to try. It's backed by actual science and works for tons of people. I think having your hair down to your bra strap is already very long and is probably pretty. Do you wear your hair down a lot? Just curious.

I rarely recommend products for people because it's such a tricky thing, but the link I sent is as guaranteed to work as anything can be. Let me know if you do try it. All the info is already provided, including how long to expect before seeing results. I lost a lot of my hair from stress due to illness. It became very sparse and once that happens, it's usually hard to get it back to it's former glory. But, it is like it's been "turned back on" to grow, not to mention my crazy nails. I decided to just see how long they'd get with no care and two on my right hand got snagged, so they aren't as long. But my left hand has grown about .75" since May or June here's a picture of me holding my Lelo Smart Wand I haven't done a thing to them other than file if they get rough edges. I haven't been using lotion either, so they look kinda rough, sorry. Hey, at least they are clean!



I don't put anything on them, no nail polish, oils, anything. I am going to cut them any day now because they are annoying the crap out of me, though the cats enjoy the scratches. I also don't want to look like a dragon lady. I figure the experiment shows they will just keep growing until they break from me being rough. Besides typing with them is a weird feeling and I make more typos. (Sorry the image is so big, I don't have a way to reduce it.) Hey, that's your avatar above my fingers, Stormy.

@js250, thanks about the tip, I do know about long hair and migraines, but it doesn't affect me in the least. If I change a part for example, I get a very sore scalp, but nothing about my hair ever triggers a migraine. I have chopped it off to chin length a few times since high school, just a few years ago in fact and it makes no difference. I am damn glad about that after reading about your experience! less

0_0 Sweet mother of pearl!
How...on Earth do you get your nails that long?
Mine always break before they even hit somewhere around a quarter of an inch.
And once one breaks, if you don't trim them all down so they're even, it looks awkward.

The worst is when the thumbnails break though, it makes texting a pain in the ass trying to hit those tiny keys with no nail to depress the button.
=_=' less

Going to post and then read through all of the replies... =3

1) Up until about third grade I was 100% ambidextrous and I'm slowly trying to regain that skill. My third grade teacher forced me to pick one hand and stick with it, and to this day, my mother is still pissed off at her for that.

2) My life plan involves marriage, babies, and pet pygmy goats with a big backyard for them to play around in. xD

3) I love a lot of commonly feared creatures such as: snakes, bats, rats/mice, frogs/toads, moths (seriously...why does anyone fear these precious little things? 0_o ), and oddly enough given that one bit me and made me get rabies shots....skunks.

4) My most precious possessions, even including all my toys, are a pair of school books from the late 1800's. I have an obsession with antique books of any form but something about old textbooks always fascinates me more so than any others.

5) My mother and I have often debated going into the clothing industry with a small online boutique...with a dedicated section for male dog clothing. She always goes to the pet stores to get Ceaser a new sweater but always leaves grossly disappointed by the overwhelmingly large female dog clothing to almost non-existent male dog clothing ratio. less

I don't know that I personally qualified as a prodigy, but I take your point & I do agree with you about the decision they made. They included me in it which is surprising since they were/are such control freaks, ha! They set out the options, told me what they thought, had me think it over for a few weeks while peppering them with questions and then I decided if I could still do music, but also pursue other things (and that was what I wanted) then that was better - I wanted to keep going to school and learn all the things I was interested in and not have everything secondary or sacrificed to music. Plus, I didn't love performing. I enjoyed it more in an ensemble, but solo stressed me out, even if it didn't show anymore. I knew even then that there are some people that thrive on performance and they were better suited for it. Even if I only composed, I would likely have to conduct at some point... less

Since we have so many new faces around here, I thought this might be fun for both newcomers and veterans alike to get to know one another a little better Let's see if there are any hidden commonalities among us other than sex toys.

The idea is pretty simple, list five facts about yourself (facts you don't mind sharing with total strangers on the internet). less

1. I just got my driver's license last Dec. at the age of 36. Never wanted to drive. Was forced to after Mom died.
2. I am a virgin at the age of 37.
3. I live alone in a big house since my Mom died in 2011. Would never want to live anywhere else.
4. I have broken my right arm twice and my left arm once as a kid.
5. I love to travel. less

Wow, congratulations on getting your license. That must have taken courage. I, myself, no longer drive because I was t-boned in a parking lot when my transmission stalled. (Hmm, perhaps I shouldn't be sharing this with you... ) I don't want to scare you off, as it was truly a we were both in the wrong place at the wrong time scenario and we were both equally at fault.

Perhaps now that you have your license you'll be able to meet people and get to know yourself as well! less

Yes it did. I was nervous the day I took the test. I passed with flying colors. My Mom was the one who always took me everywhere. Slowly I am learning to love to drive. I haven't been on the highway yet, just on local roads. That's the next step. It's one thing on a long road to independence since my Mom died. less